Thursday, 13 July 2017

Federer cruising to his 8th

Roger Federer has been given a free fide through to another Wimbledon title (his eighth) thanks to unfortunate exits by Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in quarter final matches.
True Roger played a terrific match himself to defeat Milos Raonic, avenging last year's semi final loss, but Djokovic retiring against Berdych means avoiding that tough mountain to climb and Querrey's epic win over an obviously sub par Murray leaves Federer as the overwhelming favourite to take more silverware.

Querrey is the real story, irrespective of Andy's troubles.  To hang in there through three sets and then just take full advantage of the top seeds worsening condition took a great deal of focus and great tennis.  His serving was fantastic and ground strokes some of his best for the tournament.

Sad to see Murray struggle so much but also good to watch him stay to the end and allow the American win on his merits 3-6 6-4 6-7 (4) 6-1 6-1.
Querrey hit 70 winners against just 30 unforced errors, and even Murray was on the plus side with 33 winners and 19 unforced errors.

Whilst Federer was a standout with his 6-4 6-2 7-6 (4) thrashing of Raonic - 46 winners and just 9 unforced mistakes - Marin Cilic is still in contention and could be a danger to Federer if things go right for the 2014 US Open champ.
He did beat Roger in the semis on the way to winning at Flushing Meadows that year.

Cilic ended the Wimbledon hopes of Gilles Muller in the best of the quarter finals, winning a tight five setter 3-6 7-6 (6) 7-5 5-7 6-1.  The Nadal match finally must have worn Muller down as Cilic dominated the final set.
The Croatian is warm favourite to edge past Querrey and make his first Wimbledon final.  Either way there will be one debut finalist and the American is confident enough to say it will be him.

Hard to see Berdych beating Federer, although he did win a quarter final against Roger back in 2010, and funny things can happen, but rarely.

Women's semis next and my selections are Venus Williams to upset Johanna Konta and all of Britain, and Garbine Muguruza to end the fairytale run of Magdalena Rybarikova.

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